We offer a variety of straightforward, affordable parole representation plans to accommodate a wide range of needs and budgets. To learn more about those plans, CLICK HERE. Everyone serving a parole eligible sentence in Georgia will be reviewed for parole at least once, regardless of whether they are represented at the Parole Board by an attorney. Why, then, would someone benefit from hiring an attorney to assist with parole issues? CONTACT US for more information on how we can help you with parole applications.
POSITIVE INPUT
In Georgia, there are no parole hearings wherein offenders are afforded the opportunity to speak to the Parole Board Members before votes are cast in their cases. Rather, an offender’s file is prepared by a Parole Board hearing examiner for the Parole Board Members’ review. The file then is circulated amongst the Parole Board Members. The first Member reviews the file and casts a vote in private, with the file then being provided to the next Member to do the same, and the process continues until a decision is reached. Given this reliance on the written file, having a positive profile reflected in the file is key.
Notably, the files maintained by the Parole Board regarding offenders primarily are comprised of materials obtained from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, court officials, Georgia Department of Corrections officials, and victims. Often, input from these sources does not provide the Parole Board Members with the favorable and current information people want the Parole Board Members to know when voting their cases. We help you identify the factors in your life and case that should be emphasized to the Parole Board so that a positive profile will be reflected in your file and so that the Parole Board Members will have a clear view of you and your potential for success once released from confinement.
ACCURATE INFORMATION
In Georgia, the majority of an offender’s file maintained by the Parole Board is considered a state secret and is not subject to disclosure through an Open Records Act request. This creates a substantial risk that inaccurate information will be in the file and go unchallenged. If you suspect that inaccurate information about a particular matter may be in the file, let us consult with a Parole Board official on your behalf to make sure that your file contains the correct information.
REQUESTS TO RECONSIDER PREVIOUS DECISIONS
The present Parole Board policies do not provide for notice being given to offenders that they soon will be considered for parole by the Parole Board. All too often, this results in people receiving notices from the Parole Board informing them of their parole decisions and leaving them frustrated that the Parole Board voted their cases without knowing updated information about important issues. Having an attorney advocate on your behalf at the Parole Board by providing the Parole Board with that information that you wanted the Parole Board to know when voting your case may result in the Parole Board agreeing to reconsider its previous decision and revote the case with the updated information reflected in its file. The likelihood of the Parole Board agreeing to reconsider the case is dependent on the strength of the updated information. We can assess your case and identify the strongest information upon which your request for reconsideration should be based.
VICTIM INPUT
When reviewing a case, the Parole Board Members are required to take into consideration input received from surviving victims or the family members of victims killed in the course of the offense. Typically, such input is received soon after a defendant is convicted, often via forms provided to victims and their families by the prosecution. Particularly if the offense underlying your conviction occurred many years ago, the perspectives of people who previously submitted input may have changed or may be subject to change through carefully structured dialogue between them and an experienced professional. If you believe that victim input is hindering your release on parole, CONTACT US to discuss options and CLICK HERE to learn more about our Victim Outreach services.
